Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Wednesday 9th April 2025 at 06:50hrs
A plastic surgeon has been convicted of the attempted murder of a senior colleague following a late-night attack during the 2021 lockdown.
Peter Brooks, 61, was found guilty today, Monday, April 7th, at a court in Preston, after a four-week trial.
The court heard how Brooks, residing in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, cycled to the home of Graeme Perks on the night of January 14, 2021.
He carried with him two containers of petrol, a crowbar, and a knife, and was clad in camouflage clothing. Brooks broke into the Perks family home through a conservatory door while Mr Perks, his wife, and son were asleep upstairs.
Once inside, Brooks doused the interior of the house with petrol, including the staircase leading to the bedrooms. Before he could ignite the flammable liquid, he was disturbed by Mr Perks, who had come downstairs upon hearing the commotion.
Brooks then stabbed Mr Perks in the abdomen, inflicting a life-threatening injury.
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Following the attack, Brooks cycled back to his home and was later discovered asleep in a nearby residential garden after taking an overdose.
The trial revealed that Brooks had been subject to disciplinary proceedings at work involving Mr Perks, establishing a clear motive for the violent act.
Brooks faced charges of attempted murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of the knife used in the attack.
A previous trial in 2022 was aborted mid-way through. In an unusual turn of events, Brooks chose not to attend the retrial proceedings and was not represented by a legal team.
Despite the defendant’s absence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) successfully argued their case. Rachael Dean from the CPS stated:
“Peter Brooks committed an act of extreme violence, attempting to murder a highly respected colleague. This was a planned, calculated attack, in which Brooks showed he was determined to kill his former boss.”
Dean further emphasized the challenges of prosecuting the case without the defendant’s participation.
“Since committing these atrocious acts, Brooks has sought to evade responsibility by any means. Today, justice has caught up with him and he must now face the consequences of his criminal actions.”
The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including CCTV footage of Brooks’s journey, the items used in the attack found in his garage with DNA evidence, and testimony detailing the severity of Mr Perks’s injuries.
The court heard from the surgeon who treated Mr Perks, who stated that most patients with such injuries would not have survived.
Dean commended the victim and his family for their resilience:
“His victim was fortunate to escape with his life and his whole family were in danger from Brooks’s inexplicable actions.
Despite the physical and emotional trauma they have endured, they have returned to tell the court their story. This has been a long process and I hope that today’s conviction will help with their continued recovery from this ordeal.”
Peter Brooks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3rd.
The case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings when defendants choose not to engage, requiring the prosecution to meticulously present all evidence to the jury.
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